Webster’s Chapel Redneck Christmas parade Saturday

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 6:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 6:40 p.m.

An important part of the rebuilding process after a disaster is rebuilding community spirit. Residents of Webster’s Chapel, which was badly hit by the April 27, 2011, tornadoes, will do that Saturday with a Redneck Christmas parade.

Organizers say the parade will start at 11 a.m. in front of Webster’s Chapel United Methodist Church. The assortment of tractors, trailers, horses, four-wheelers, lawn mowers, vintage cars, floats and other units will travel on Webster Chapel’s Road to Mountainview Road, then onto Ross Lake Road and back to Webster’s Chapel Road.

Sonya Burnett has lived in Webster’s Chapel her entire life and said the parade was open to anything “redneck.”

“Everybody thinks out here is just rednecks,” she said. “Why not go with it.”

Burnett said the parade will be a community get-together, adding, “They can ride horses, four-wheelers, anything.”

She will be riding a horse, her husband a lawn mower.

Webster’s Chapel doesn’t look like it did before the tornado, Burnett said, and some people have left.

“We’re trying to bring back people into the community, and bring the community back together,” she said. “That’s basically what’s the parade for.”

The Rev. Donald Douthit, pastor of Webster’s Chapel United Methodist Church, agreed and said it’s also a way to “showcase” the community, after what it’s gone through in rebuilding.

A county store has reopened in the community, Douthit said, and a fire department building is near completion.

“That’s the main objective, just to get people together to come out to have a good time, (and) just look over how it’s grown and the things that have grown up since the destruction,” he said.

Asked why the “redneck” theme was chosen, Douthit said, “We’re just rural country people, and somebody said ‘let’s just call it a redneck Christmas parade.’ They just kind of stuck that title to it.”

Douthit said “just about anything you’d see out in a rural community” will be in the parade, and that some units would be decorated for Christmas and throwing out candy.

He’s unsure what he’ll be riding — a tractor, four-wheeler, horse or float.”

<p>An important part of the rebuilding process after a disaster is rebuilding community spirit. Residents of Webster's Chapel, which was badly hit by the April 27, 2011, tornadoes, will do that Saturday with a Redneck Christmas parade.</p><p>Organizers say the parade will start at 11 a.m. in front of Webster's Chapel United Methodist Church. The assortment of tractors, trailers, horses, four-wheelers, lawn mowers, vintage cars, floats and other units will travel on Webster Chapel's Road to Mountainview Road, then onto Ross Lake Road and back to Webster's Chapel Road.</p><p>Sonya Burnett has lived in Webster's Chapel her entire life and said the parade was open to anything “redneck.” </p><p>“Everybody thinks out here is just rednecks,” she said. “Why not go with it.” </p><p>Burnett said the parade will be a community get-together, adding, “They can ride horses, four-wheelers, anything.”</p><p>She will be riding a horse, her husband a lawn mower.</p><p>Webster's Chapel doesn't look like it did before the tornado, Burnett said, and some people have left.</p><p>“We're trying to bring back people into the community, and bring the community back together,” she said. “That's basically what's the parade for.” </p><p>The Rev. Donald Douthit, pastor of Webster's Chapel United Methodist Church, agreed and said it's also a way to “showcase” the community, after what it's gone through in rebuilding.</p><p>A county store has reopened in the community, Douthit said, and a fire department building is near completion.</p><p>“That's the main objective, just to get people together to come out to have a good time, (and) just look over how it's grown and the things that have grown up since the destruction,” he said.</p><p>Asked why the “redneck” theme was chosen, Douthit said, “We're just rural country people, and somebody said 'let's just call it a redneck Christmas parade.' They just kind of stuck that title to it.”</p><p>Douthit said “just about anything you'd see out in a rural community” will be in the parade, and that some units would be decorated for Christmas and throwing out candy.</p><p>He's unsure what he'll be riding — a tractor, four-wheeler, horse or float.”</p><p>For more information, call 256-504-9040 or 256-490-2555.</p>